as in interim
serving in a position for the time being
will serve as acting president of the university until a permanent replacement can be found
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in playing
to present a portrayal or performance of
a local student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our theater company's production of A Christmas Carol
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in working
to produce a desired effect
the painkiller acted surprisingly quickly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seeming
to give the impression of being
always acting helpless, just to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in serving
to have a certain purpose
the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
if you act confident long enough, you'll begin to actually feel it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in mocking
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
someone who is willing to act the helpless little thing when she wants attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of acting
Olivia Allen, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2025
The film turned out to be a critical success, garnering favorable reviews for its visually arresting style rather than just the acting or the plot.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
David Folkenflik, NPR, 26 Aug. 2025
Maria Becerra’s Acting Debut Argentine singer-songwriter Maria Becerra has made acting debut on Netflix’s new series En El Barro, the spin-off of the series El Marginal, produced by Netflix and Underground, a division of Telemundo Studios.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 23 Aug. 2025
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
After studying acting at Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, Keaton was cast as the understudy for the character of Sheila in the original Broadway production of Hair in 1968.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acting
Adjective
Beyond his extensive acting credits, Nighy has become quietly famous for his no-nonsense opinions on the machinations of life and regular sightings in and around London cafés.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2025
The film turned out to be a critical success, garnering favorable reviews for its visually arresting style rather than just the acting or the plot.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Under the terms of the relevant statute, Lake does not appear to be eligible to fill the chief executive position on an acting basis.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 26 Aug. 2025
Maria Becerra’s Acting Debut Argentine singer-songwriter Maria Becerra has made acting debut on Netflix’s new series En El Barro, the spin-off of the series El Marginal, produced by Netflix and Underground, a division of Telemundo Studios.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
By design, these tools see far more of what users do online, and can even infer why a user is acting in certain ways.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
After studying acting at Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, Keaton was cast as the understudy for the character of Sheila in the original Broadway production of Hair in 1968.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acting
Adjective
-
By halfway through the 2022 season, Rhule had been fired by owner David Tepper , interim head coach Steve Wilks had been installed and Mayfield (after famously taking a few snaps at defensive line for the scout team at one practice) had asked for and had been granted his release.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Weeks later, Kennedy ousted then-agency Director Susan Monarez after less than a month on the job, installing one of his top deputies as her interim replacement.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Graziadei, 46, is known for playing Daniel Romalotti in The Young and the Restless.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
As knowledgeable as Towns is about the infrastructure of the apparel industry, his priority is playing for and training with the New York Knicks.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For years, Bloom was hyped as a Silicon Valley unicorn, but in 2012 the SEC charged an investment bank working with Bloom of using inflated numbers to mislead investors.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Christiaan Triebert is a Times reporter working on the Visual Investigations team, a group that combines traditional reporting with digital sleuthing and analysis of visual evidence to verify and source facts from around the world.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Medvedev said on Telegram, in comments translated by Reuters, seeming to hint that Moscow’s response would be a nuclear one.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Lee Roberts, North Carolina's chancellor, was present for the news conference, seeming to signal the Tar Heels are committed to Belichick's program.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kevin sneaks his way into a room at the Plaza Hotel and gets up to his usual shenanigans in the building, which was owned in real life by Donald at the time, with Ivana serving as the property's president.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Dave Brubeck, already an accomplished jazz pianist, serving in a military band at a Riverside, California, base, was reassigned, trained, then shipped overseas as a replacement infantry rifleman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trapped at sea On both page and screen, Carrie, the woman pretending to be Anne, lures Laura to the ship’s hold and traps her there.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Katherine del Rio took to social media to post, then delete, a couple of Instagram Stories mocking Leah Lewis following the incident on the set of the CBS drama.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
It has also been used as a derogatory term, mocking immigrant culture in Lima during the mass migrations of Indigenous Andean people to Lima in the 20th century.—
NPR,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
McNeeley intends on performing wherever Lee places him on the court, tapping into his gritty demeanor, and nodded in virtual appreciation when Lee’s words were relayed to him.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
-
At the time of the store opening in September, Jobling said the John Varvatos brand was performing well, despite macroeconomic challenges, with a steady wholesale channel and strong sales in its full-price stores.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acting. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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